doherty



G. D. DOHERTY March 14, 1933. HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS Re. 18,762 f 2 sheets-sheet 14 Original Filed June 20, 192'( MMI LVM

Rea-wed Mar. 14, 1933 narran)v STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE D. noIIEaTY, or EvA-Ns'roN, ILLINoIs, AssIGNoa 'ro Dorman-naam coil-- PANY, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A conronA'rIoN or DELAWARE HUIIIDIFvING ArPAnA'rUs Original No. 1,760,976, dated June 8, 1930, Serial No. 199,904, led June 20, 1927. Application for lreissue le .Tune 3, 1932. Serial No. 615,257.

This invention relates to humidifying ap-i paratus and has special reference to an apparatus for moistening and heating "the atmosphere in la room'or other enclosure to maintain a desired .degree-of relative humidl ity and temperature therein.

` thermal relation with the heatin for evaporation into the atmosp ere in a.l

yns

More particularly, this invention has ref erence to an apparatus comprising sectionsP for circulating a heating medium which sec'- tions are so constructed and arranged as -to accommodate a humidifying medium in close medium room or other enclosure to maintain a desired degree of relative humidity and tem-I perature therein.

r Heretofore, in order to revent an undesirable and unhygienic ari ity in a house or other building, a supply of vaporhas been introduced into the air by meansvof spraying the water or other liquld on a heating' section with which latter the air is caused to contact; by forcing air, which has previously been heated, through a means. which vlatter has been saturated with water or other f humidifying medium; or Aby' various other contrivances which r uire a comparatively great amount of attentlon in their successful operation.'

The present lnvention pr'ovldes an eiiiclent means for eliminating the above mentioned inconvenience, for example, a ',motox" or blower is not required for the o ration of the apparatus nor i's any mova le element that needs special attention and periodic inspectien connected therewith. The heating sections 'of my present invention are supplie with a lheating medium such vasxsteam or hot water in the ordinary manner as supplied to radiators of the present-day construction.

e However, the yheating sections of this invention are provided wlth troughs for contain- 'ing a supply of water or otherohumidifying medium in order that an eliicient thermal conductivity be maintained between the heating medium and the humidifyfing medium.

, These sections which provide for both heating and humidifying are so designed and, if separated into component parts, are so as- .sembled in relation toene another that the heated air and humidifying medium are freely circulated within the room or oice naturally and lwithout the aid" of forced circulatlng means. At the same time, the heat from the steam, vapor or hot water and the' humidity from the humidifying medium are lmost eiciently employed disseminated with- ,provide an apparatus of thecharacter indicated forlmoistening and heating the air in a-room or other enclosure whereby the humidifying content has a direct thermal contact with the entireheating sup ly to maintaln a desired'degree of relative humidity.

Another object of this invention is to provide an Aapparatus as indicated above in whichthe container for the humidifying medium is formed integrally. with the heating section.`

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus as above noted in which the surface of the humidifyin agent is fully exposed to the circulation oft e air.

A'still further object of this invention is to provlde an apparatus of the type mentioned abovein which the. air has a rapid circulation and unrestricted path therethrou h to receive the vapors from -the humid ing medium and heat from the heating medium. It -1s also the object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the type hereinbea -fore recited in which an improved and eilicient radiation 7is provided for the evaporating and heatingsurfaces whereby no noisesV nor other annoying conditions, ordinarily encountered are prevalent.

Y Otherfobjects and advantages will be apparent from the Ifollowing description and accompan ng drawings forming apart of this speci cation to which reference may now be had for a morercoinplete understanding of andv section;

the characteristic-features of this invention,

in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a front, elevational view of the apparatusF showing the casing therefor in Fig. 7 is a vertical sectionalview taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of another of the heating sections embodied in this invention;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings andmore particularly to Figs. 1 and2 thereof, one

form of humldiier, as embodied in this invention, is shown therein and comprises a group of superposed horizontally extending heating sections 1() and 11. The ends of each adjacent heating section are connectedvtogether by means of nipples 12 thereby providing a continuousJ passageway therethrough. The headers thus formed by'these continuous passageways are connected to the heating system, the' lower end of one being connected to an inlet conduit 13 and the lower end of the other being connected to an outlet conduit 14:.

' The lowermost heating section is provided with feet 15 or other suitable extensions, upon which the entire structure rests. These surposed heating sections may be enclosed' y means of an open cabinet 16, although this is optional with the purchaser, and not particularly essential. In one form of suitable cabinet the lower endsof the front of the cabinet is lprovided with an opening 17 to admit the arid and unheated air intocontact with the heating sections, whereafter the air passes upwardly as ity becomes heated and humidied to pass out through the grille 18 at the upper` end of the cabinet. In order `to facilitate the: 110W of the heated and humidified air rtoward the grille 18, a curved baie plate 19 may extend across the upper rear corner of the cabinet. It will be read-y ily apparent that were this cabinet omitted, the path of the air in the room or other enclosure would have a similar circulation, the

dry and unheated air being drawn toward the sections as the humidifed andfheated air is diffused therefrom. However, the cabinet is, atmost times desirable because of the. striking appearance to be obtained from an ornamental device of this character,P

by the heating medium Figs. 8 and 'A drip pan 20 is provided at the bottom of the heating sections to receive any conden- Y sate or overflow from the heating sections. The drip pan must necessarily be of a, width and length to extend beyond the outermost edges of the heating section and in the drawings, the extensions or feet 15 lrest in the bottom of the drip pan in 1order to conserve space, although itmay be desirable to have these feet rest on the outside thereof.

y By referring now to the detailed structure of the heating sections as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, the heating section 10 comprises a casting having a passageway 21 extending therethrough in communication with the aforementioned continuous passagewayy afforded by means of the nipples 12 interconnecting adjacent heating sections. The

heating medium, suchas hot water, steam)A or vapor, is circulated from the inlet header through the passageway 21 to"the outlet header. The upper portion of the casting is provided with a recessed portion or trough 22 extending 'substantially the entire length of the heating section. A humidifying 'medium, such as water, is provided in the recessed portioni22 tov be heated and vaporized circulated through the passageway 21 of the heating section.

plurality of fins 23 may, if desired, be provided on the outer surfaces of the heating section 10 toprovide' for a greater amount A of radiating surface.

The heating section 11, as illustrated in 9, comprises a casting of a coil shape. having a passageway 24 extending therethrough? The cross-section of each of the two horizontally Vextending portions of the coil may be the same as the cross-section of the single heating section 10, the two -portions being spaced a substantial distance apart. However, as provided'in most heat- ,l

ing sections of comparatively great lengths, the passageways of the two portions may be connected at a central point as indicated at A to provide for a more efficient circulation of the heating medium. The passageway 24 is in communication with thev inlet and outlet headers provided by the nipples 12 interconnecting the adjacent coil sections. The upper surface of the coil is recessed as at 25 to contain the humidifying medium, the recessed portion extending so as to permit the humidifying medium to pass over substantially the entire uppersurface -of the coil. The radiating surface lof the Acoil shapedheatling section may be increased by the fins 23a provided on the outer surfaces thereof.

The bottom'surface of the coil section 1Q is slightly curved and tapers from the outer edges toward a central point thereof. This construction facilitates the How of the air as it is being heated and humidified. The same construction is provided in the heating sec- Btion 11m/wherein the two horizontally extending portions are similarly curved and Ahave v centrally tapering bottom portions.

It is preferable to dispose a singlefunit 1() centrally of and between each double unitl 1 manufacturer and that the construction may be adjusted'to the various requirements for different conditions in the many enclosures for which it is adapted. It may also be desirable to provide heatingr sections consisting of three or four units and it is to b e understood that this invention is not to be limited to the particular forms shown in thedrawings. It isy apparent that by staggering the units, a system lof4 baiilin'g is obtainedwhereby a maximum of etliciency is obtained in tiialinsferring heat and humidity to the atmosere. t. P In the construction shown in the drawings, the air passes through the opening between the two horizontally extending portions of the double4 or coil-shaped heating section to contact with the lower surface of the single heating section, and'thencey around that section to contact with the double unit next above where it is forced between and around the horizontally extending portion as first denext-below. The overHow pipe on the lowermost heating section permits its overflow to be fed to the drip pan 2O which Vlatter is'con- Anected to the sewer by conduit 20". A lipf28 is provided on the upperend of the overflow pipe 26 of the heating section 10, in order to retain a supply of the humidifying medi-- um in the recess 22, and a similar lip 29 is provided on the upper end of the overflow pipe 27 in order to lretain a supply of the humidifying'medium in the recessed portion 25 of the heating section 11. It is preferable to arrange the overflow pipes 26 and 27 at opposite ends of their respective heat-ing sections so that an even distribution of the humidifying medium may be obtained. As a means or supplying the humidiying l medium to the coil sections, a source of supply may be contained in a small tank in the upper portion of thercabinet and is permitted to flow therefrom to a receptacle v30 in communication with the recessed portion ofthe uppermost heating section. The supply to the trough 30 is` controlled bym valve V,31 which, itwill be apparent, may be controlled manually or mechanically. -It may be desirable at times to turn off automatically the supply of the humidifying medium to the heating sections when the steam, hot water or other heating medium is shut off from the heating sections. However, for the purpose of this application, it is deemed onlynecessary to state that the valve 31 controls the supply of water or `other humidifying medium contained in a tank to the heating sections. It is also probable that thev valve 31 may '.be connected to a conduit in di-rect communication with the domestic water supply. 'i

The control of the evaporation may be ob- I tained through .either the valve 31 or a valve 32 connected in the inlet supply conduit 13. Vith reference to theA last mentioned control,

by regulating the opening through the valve 32, more or less1 heat is permitted to Aflow to the heatingsections and, for example, if more heat is demanded, the air passing over the heating sections is heated to a comparatively great degree and it has more capacity for containing the vapor emitted from the heating sections -thanfify it were heatedto a lesser degree. On the other hand, should a .comparatively small supply of water or other humidifying medium be permitted to pass from the valve.31, it will apparent that a lesser amount of vapor could be obtained by the atmosphere in passing over the heating section.y

It will be noted, particularly, that because I of the recessed portions 22 and 25 being extended over the upper surfaces of the heating sections, the entire surface of the humidifyving medium is exposed to the circulation of the air and that'this humidifying medium is in a substantially direct thermal contact 'with the entire content of the heating medium, the heat from the heating medium being conducted through the metal and lthe latter being in contact withthe humidifying medium. It will also be noted that 'because of the lack of mechanical contrivances, such as are usually employed in humidifiers, there will be a ,lack of the noises accompanying the same, which is a very desirable condition.

By referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings, a modified form of the present invention is shown which is lusedparticularly when steam is employed as the'heating medium. In this construction, the arid and unheated air is first heatedsto increase its capacity for carrying moisture, whereafter moisture is introduced tothe air to be finally superheated before passing into the room or other enclosure. the aforesaid, several of thelowcr heating sections are'not provided with the usual recesses for containing the humidifying agent and will hereafter be referred to as dryl sections. -Likewise several of Vthe `uppermost heating sections are d ry sections. The in- As a means for accomplishingI termediate heating sections 'are provided with recessed portions for 'containing the humidifying agent as in the preceding form of this invention. The arid and unheated air passes over from thence is introduced-into the air, and finally over the dry sections at the top where the humidified air is superheated before passing into hot vaponfrom entering the room which, if suiciently hot and saturated, will fog the room and may have a scalding effect. The supply of water or other humidifying means in this instance will be led to the uppermost of the wet sections whereafter the overflow therefrom will pass downwardly into the succeeding wet heating sections and finally -to the drip pan which latter is connected to the sewer. The remaining elements of this structure are similar with the before described. f

While several embodiments of this inven- `tion are herein shown and described,` it is to be understood that the same is not to be limited to these specific structures since various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing fromv the spirit 3 for@ desired that the Same be limited only by the showing of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: 1 Y, 1. A device of kthe character described comprising `a plurality'of spaced and 'superposed.l heating sections connected to one another for circulating a heating mediumtherethrough, sections having a smaller number m of heating units lbeing alternately disposed .with sections, having a greater .number v of heating unitsP arid the heating-units ofs'aid superposed sections being staggered relatively to one another for circulating air around said heating units,.and means von each heating unit containing'a humidif ingvmedium for imparting umidity tothe eated air.

2. A device of the character described Y comprising a plurality of superposed heating.

sections that alternately comprise a smaller and a eater number of heating units for circulating a heating medium therethrough,

'andan open trough on each of said units for containing al humidifyingmedium,rsaid heat'- ing sections being ,spaced from one another andthe units of adjacent sections being dis-V posed in staggered relation Ywith respect to one another todirect the vair along a tortuous path through said superpo sed sections whereby. said air may receive an eilicient transmission of heat and humidity thereto.

3. In ya device of the character described, aplurality y`of superposed heating sections alternately having a smaller and a greater 6b number o f lpassageways fliegen kways being provided the -dry sections to be heated, to the wet sections where vapor the room. This construction will avoid free g structure as hereing and scope of this invention, and it istheretherethrough' for` circulating a heating medium, said heating sections having a greater number of passagewith open spaces therebetween, a casing open to the atmosphere for` housing said heating sections, thepassageways in the said heating sections having the smaller number of passageways being disposed in staggered relation to the passages ways in the said heating sections having the reater number of passageways, certain of the intermediately disposed sections having recesses on their upper surfaces for containing a humidi'fying medium whereby the air is preheated before moisture is introduced thereinto and superheated thereafter.

4. A combined air humidifier and heat radiator comprising 'a plurality of spaced superposed heating sections connected to one another to allow a heating `medium toflow therethrough, alternate sections having a reater number of heating units than the'rv intermediate sectionsand said alternate sec-` tions at least having open spaces between the heating units thereon/said units of the superposed adjacent sections being arranged in staggered re1 ation to one'another'to provide ay tortuous passageway for the vnatural circulation of the air through and .around said heating sections, and open troughs formed on the upper faces of some of said units for holding .a humidifying medium thatfis imparted to the heated air as itxcirculates and through said spaced heatin sections'. g

Y 5. A combined air humidiiier and heat radiator comprisinga plurality of spaced superposed heating sections connected `to vone another to allow a heating medium to How therethrough, alternate sections having spaced heatingiunits with an open space therebetween, the heating units of the superposedv sectionsbeingarranged in staggered relation to one another in order to rovide a. tortuous passageway for thecircu ation of the' air aroundsaid heating units and through the said open spaces upper faces of some of said heating units for holdingl a humidifying medium that may be imparted' toy the heated air as it circulates,

overflow means from the troughs, means for maintaining a minimum level-of humidify t ing xriediurn in eachl of said troughs, and mea s for supplying a humidifying medium to the troughs.4

l6. In a device of the character described, a .purality of superposed heating sections having pas'sagewaysl therethrough for circulating a heating medium, a casing open to the atmosphere for housing said sections, andl means on a plurality of intermediately dis 125 posedheating sections only for'containing a humidifying medium whereby air isl preheated before moisture is introduced thereinto-4 and is superheated thereafter.

7. In a device of the character y formed in the alternate 1.10V Yheatingsections, open troughs formed on the described, al 13oV circuitous hollow casting comprising spaced hollow chambers with an open space between adjacent chambers which are connected to-" gether at their ends, said chambers allowing or circulating aV heating medium, said casting. having a continuous exposedl recessed portion extending over the entire upper surface thereof for containing a humidifying medium.

8. In a device of the character described,

a plurality of superposed spaced heating sections alternately comprising a smaller and 9. In a device of the character described, a

I plurality of superposed and spaced heating,

y intermediate sections whereby air .is passedl sections comprlsing horizontally extending hollow units ,connected together forcirculat ing a heating medium through said units, sectionshaving a greater number of units alternating with sections having a lesser number of units and said units of adjacent sections being staggered with respect to each other, said sections having exposed recessed portions thereon for contain-ing a humidifying medium.

10. In a device of the character described, a plurality of superposed spaced-heating sections comprising horiz'ontallyextending hollow units connected together" for circulating aheating medium, a casing opento the atmos- .phere for housing lsaid sections, alternate sections having a greater number of'units than the intermediate sections, said lsections having exposed `recessed portions thereon for containing a humidifying medium, the units of each alternate section being arranged in staggered vertical relation to the units of the upwardly through the superposed lsections in a tortuous path thereby receiving an efficient transmission of heat and humidity thereto. f

11. In a device of the character described, a plurality of superposed spaced hollow heating sections 'alternateones of which contain a different number of heating units than the intermediate ones and saidsectionsbeing so arranged that said untsthereof are disposed in a staggered vertical relation to each other, said unitsproviding means for v.circulating la heating medium therein and each section having a recessed portion'on the upper surface for containing a humidifying medium, an. overflow conduit formed integrally with each of said sections in communication with s aid recessed portion to permit the A humidifying medium to overflow from the higher to 'the lower of said recessed portions of the cast,

ings, and la lip adjacent the edge of each of said overiiow conduits to retain a supply of said humidifying medium in each of vsaid recessed ort-ions.

12.4 n a device of the character described, a. hollow casting for circulating a heating medium comprising a plurality of spaced horlzontally extending hollow members connected together at their ends and havin open space between adjacent hollow mem rs to form a passageway, said casting having an exposed recessed portion for containing a humidifying medium- 13. In a device of the characterdescribed,

a hollow casting for circulating a heatin medium comprising a plurality of spaced vorizontally extendinghollow members connected together at their ends and having an open space between adjacent members to form Aa passageway, each of saidmembers havingan exposed recessed portion thereon for contam- 1ng a humidlfying medium and said recessed v portions being fintercommunicating.n

14. In a device of the character described,

a hollow casting for circulating a heating mej dium comprising a plurality of spaced horizontally extending' hollow members ,connected together at their ends and having an open space between adjacent ,members to form a passageway, each of said members having an exposed recessed portion thereonfor containing a humidifying medium and said recessed portions being intercommum'cating, said casting having an aperture extending therethrough communicating with said recessed portions, and a lip bounding said aperture at the upper end thereof, said lip being of a desired height for maintaining a minimum le've'l of the humidifying medium.'l

15. A combined air humidifier and heat ra diator comprising a plurality of spaced heating sections some of which have a larger number of heating units than-others and the sections having' a larger number of heating units being alternated with the other sections to form the assembled structure, the

lunits of tho's'e sections possessing the larger number of heating units being speced from one another to provide openspaces therebetweenB and said heating sections possessing a.

llarger number of heating units being so pounits for holding a humidifying medium that is imparted to the heated air as it circulates around said heating sections, overflow means for said troughs, means for maintaining a.

minimum 1 level of humidifying medium iny 130 each/trough, and means for sup lying a humidifying medium to the trou 16; A combined air humidili'er andl heat radiatoi` comprising a plurality 'of spaced and superposed heating sections connected to one another forcirculating a heating medium therethrough, alternate sections at least-having a plurality of heating units that lare spaced from one another to provide open spaces therebetween andthe heating `units of said superposed sections being staggered relatively to one another to provide a tortuous passage for the natural circulation of the air `through and around said heating sections, and opentroughs formed on the up rportions of said sections for holding la umidifying medium thatis imparted to the heated air as it circulates around and through said of humidifying means "so as to dry out substantially the excess free moisture from the heated and humidilied air rising 1n said casing and discharging therefrom.

18. InX a device of the character describedN comprising a plurality of superposed heating sections connected together'` for circulating a heating medium therethrough, a casing open to the atmosphere for housing said sections, and nieans associated with some of saidsections for imparting humidity to the heated air as it rises within said casing, and means for dryin out' substantially the excess free moisture rom the heated andI humidified air that discharges from said casing.v

191 In adevice of the character described comprising a plurality of adjacent heating sections connected together for circulating a heating medium therethrough, means associated with some of said heating sections for, 'imparting humidity to the air heated by said sections, and means for increasing the temperature of the heated and humidified air beyond that which this mixture possesses immediately after being humidilied.

I 20. A combined air humidifier and heat radiator comprising a plurality of adjacentV hollow heatingsections connected together for circulating, heating medium therethrough, a casing open to the atmosphere for housing said sections, means for imparting humidity to the heated air rising from said heating sections, and an additional heating section for increasing the temperature of the heated and humidiied air beyond that moisture inthe lmixture where it discharges from said casing. i

21. A combined air humidifier and heat radiator comprising a plurality of super- 'posedA hollow heating sections connected together for 'circulatin a heating medium therethrough, someo said `sections having recessed portions on their `upper faces for containing a humidifyingmedium that is vaporized and imparted to the heated air as it rises, at least the uppermost heating section being devoid of any humidifying means.

22. In aecombined air humidifier; and heat radiator comprisin a plurality of superposed heating sections t at are hollowl and connected together to circulate a heating medium therethrough, at least some o said sections being providedwith an open space extending therethrough and an exposed recessed portion on the upper rface thereof for holding a humidifying medium, said sections being assembled to provide a tortuous passageway for the natural circulation of the air'through said open spaces whereby it'v may receive an eiicient transfer otheat and humidity thereto.

23. In a combined air humidifierandheat radiator" comprising a plurality of superposed heating sections that are hollow and connected together tocirculate a heating medium therethrough, at least some of said sections being provided' with an`open spaceextending therethrough and an@ exposed recessed portion on the upper face thereof for holdinga humidifying medium, and means for ensuring the maintenance of a minimum 'level of humidifying medium in said` recessed portions, said sections being assembled to provide a tortuousl assageway for the natural circulation of t e air through said open spaceswhereby it may receive an effi- IDI cient transfer of heat and humidity thereto. y24, A combined air humidifier and heat radiator comprising a plurality of superposed heating sections connected together for circulating a heating medium therethrough, some of said sections having associated therewith` andl in close thermal relation trough portions for containin a humidiyin medium that is vaporized y the heat eve oped in the associated heating sections,- and means for maintainin a minimum level of humidifying me ium in said trough portions, said trough portions being spaced and olfset laterally fromeach other so that in assembled relation the humidified andheated `air is allowed to rise unobstructedly therefrom,

and a casing open to the atmosphere for enclosing said sections. y y

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name this'2nd day of June, 1932. f

f GEORGE D. DOHERTY.

which the mixture possesses after being .A humidified so as t0 avoid an excess of free 

